What did I buy?

So what with it being the day after Christmas and given the fact that I needed a break from the kids and their fighting over their presents I decided to go browse a bunch of the local pawn shops/gunstores. Found several stores that I'll definately have to visit again in the future. And at one of them I finally decided to start on my collection of mil-surp guns, something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

Now while I have a fairly good idea of what I'm looking at in general I'm not too hot when it comes to details, variations, manufacturers, manufacturing date, etc. Normally I'll do a good bit of research before buying any gun but today I didn"t.

So the question is what did I just buy as my late Christmas gift? I know it's a 98 Mauser of some type but the who, what, when and where are beyond my meager knowledge at this time. Therefore any help would be appreciated. And if possible a rough idea of price so I can try to figureout if I got my monies worth.

Headstamp 1955, letter A on either side of the primer. My only question with the ammo is, it just me or is that bullet actually steel?

Thanks for any help. Jake

PS Any good sites for trying to pick up a sling, bayonet and any other goodies for it?

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jagdpanzer347

December 26, 2006, 07:11 PM

Looks like a Russian captured K98k to me. Someone more knowledgable about Mausers will be along in a minute. I usually see them sell for between 225.00 and 300.00.

-jagd

Blackfork

December 26, 2006, 08:17 PM

I think that's it. Check www.gunbroker.com and do a search. Or www.AuctionArms.com I had one for a bit. Very clean rifle and shot well. 250.00-350.00.

That ammo makes me a little nervous. I think I would check it with a magnet to see if it's steel. Might not shoot the steel.

Or it might be fine. What the heck.

I've got a German K98 that was a WWII bringback. Someone put a Lyman peep on the back. I'm shooting Sellier & Belliot and have a 100 yard zero for deer. It's in the queue. Maybe it will go up on Wednesday.

zero_chances

December 26, 2006, 08:38 PM

Nice rifle:)

Can someone explain what the round metal peice in the butt stock is for? Excuse my stupidity.:(

Blackfork

December 26, 2006, 08:42 PM

Locking up rifles with a rod or cable and additionally as a tool for bolt disassembly. Plus if you put it to your ear you can hear the sea.

Huddog

December 26, 2006, 08:59 PM

I received a Mauser 98k, Russian capture rifle for christmas. Manufactured in 1939, looks much like yours but there are differences. Nothing substantial so that may indeed be what you have. Check your proof marks and stampings and see if you can find anything at www.axishistory.com to match it up. The dealer who got mine for my wife sent me a letter with it explaining the markings and the pictures are from this website. Good Luck.

Dave Markowitz

December 26, 2006, 09:12 PM

That's a German Karabiner 98k Mauser. The "byf" stamp indicates that it was made by Mauser. It's probably one of the Russian captures that were sold to the American surplus market in the past few years.

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